Whether it’s in music, the arts, filmmaking, design, acting, teaching or anything else in the creative spheres, we asked the best education providers around town to share their plans for your future. Here’s Part 2…

[CREATIVE INDUSTRIES]

JMC Academy

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Courses on offer:

JMC Academy offers eight different courses on offer for training in the creative industries. Each degree is six trimesters, totalling two years of study. Each course is based on or includes many components of practical studies, and theory-based subjects as well. Courses offered at JMC Academy include audio engineering and sound production, contemporary music performance, entertainment business management, animation, game development, film and television, digital design and songwriting.

Each trimester consists of four subjects and contains practical sessions, including one-on-one sessions with our lecturers, as well as lectures with designated classes. There are four classes a week for students spread out through the working week.

What makes us different:

At JMC Academy, we offer a concept called integration, whereby all courses at one point during the degree work on a project with students from other courses. For example, students in music performance, audio, film and TV and entertainment business will collaborate on a music video project together, each student taking on real-world industry roles for the project. These integration projects are all supported by JMC Academy.

Take the next step:

All lecturers are working industry professionals in their respective fields, and if students do well in their course, lecturers will help them with internships, work experience, or in getting a full-time job. We strive to make sure that students are aware to take any opportunity they can to further their own career and development. We have even provided all students completely free access to Artshub, where industry professional jobs are listed regularly.

In the music industry, a big part of helping your career to progress is to network and make connections. All students should know the basics of how to network and interact with like-minded people in your industry; it benefits all parties. A lot of the time it definitely is who you know, not what you know, and it’s also great that these students are the future pioneers of the creative industries, so they are essentially making connections and networking at the beginning of their career. Students also can make connections to other industry professionals through their teachers and lecturers.

What else you need to know:

We regularly hold performance nights at the Jam Gallery, and this year in Sydney we are hosting Prism Sound’s Mic to Monitor Event (Wednesday August 10).

We recently introduced a songwriting diploma and degree at JMC, a course we brought in due to the changing music industry and the need for spectacular songwriters.

Enrolment dates:

Providing prospective students have met the entry requirements, they must then complete an application form for entry into a vocational, diploma or bachelor degree course. This can be done right now online at jmcacademy.edu.au. Alternatively you can apply in person at your nearest JMC Academy campus.

Address: 561 Harris St, Ultimo

Phone: (02) 8241 8899

Website: jmcacademy.edu.au

[ADVERTISING]

Miami Ad School

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Courses on offer:

Miami Ad School offers courses in art direction portfolio (two years); copywriting portfolio (two years); campaign planning (three-month boot camp); social media (three-month boot camp); improv/stand-up (ten weeks); storytelling (ten weeks); and experimental photography (ten weeks).

What makes us different:

Miami Ad School is the top advertising college in the word (according to the leading global Gunn Report). Our students get international experience with internship offers from advertising agencies all over the world, and can study at any of our 14 overseas schools – all part of the portfolio course. Our school is in the former home of an advertising agency in Surry Hills, with all facilities: Wi-Fi, chill room, kitchen et cetera. Classes are held in themed rooms – Bondi, Golf Room, Club House, Tool Shed – with ten students on average, allowing regular one-on-one feedback with teachers. All classes are watched over by school dog Arnie.

Who are the teachers?

Our teachers are all senior creatives working in leading advertising agencies.

Take the next step:

Our graduates get jobs as junior creatives or planners in advertising agencies. They tend to get snapped up quickly because of their professional standard portfolios.

What else you need to know:

Our courses are taught in the evenings, 6pm to 9pm. At the moment we have some limited places available in the courses:

– Improv/stand-up with Marty Wilson

– Storywriting with Simon Veksner

Entrance into the Boot camps and portfolio courses is through a selective admission process. See miamiadschool.com/admissions.

Enrolment dates:

Improv/stand-up course starts July 11; storywriting course starts July 7; experimental photography course starts October 4; social media boot camp starts October 3; art direction course starts October 3; copywriting course starts October 3; campaign planning boot camp starts January 3.

Open Day:

Students are welcome to come in for a chat with the Head of School, Helga Diamond, and also sit in on a class. Email [email protected].

Address: Level 5, 2-12 Foveaux St, Surry Hills

Phone: 0406 754 745

Email: [email protected]

Website: miamiadschool.com/advertising-school/sydney

National Institute Of Dramatic Art

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Courses on offer:

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is Australia’s leading centre for education and training in the performing arts. For those wanting to start a career in the creative arts, we offer full-time accredited bachelor courses in acting, costume, design for performance, properties and objects (props), staging, and technical theatre and stage management; and masters courses in cultural leadership, design for performance, directing, voice and writing for performance. We also offer vocational diploma courses in musical theatre, live production and technical services, specialist make-up services, and stage and screen performance.

What makes us different:

At the heart of NIDA’s success is our emphasis on balancing academic and practical study. Whilst all our students receive a strong theoretical grounding for their area of study, we also make sure they have many opportunities to put that knowledge into practice. NIDA students have the chance to work on full-scale theatre works, musical productions and film projects.

The NIDA campus in Sydney is an award-winning facility tailored to performing arts training. In addition to the new NIDA Graduate School – a designated purpose-built facility for graduate students – students have access to theatres, rehearsal rooms, multimedia and CAD studios, a sound stage, a lighting studio, fully equipped production workshops and the latest in audiovisual facilities.

Who are the teachers?

The NIDA teaching staff bring a wealth of professional experience and expertise as well as invaluable industry contacts, providing students with access to the skills and knowledge required to build a career in their chosen field.

Practising artist and NIDA’s deputy director and head of design for performance, Michael Scott-Mitchell, is a great example. In addition to designing the world-renowned Sydney 2000 Olympic cauldron, last year he worked on Broadway’s Doctor Zhivago, and more recently, completed his 35th show for the Sydney Theatre Company.

Take the next step:

As NIDA has been welcoming students since 1958, we are proud of our alumni’s success, including the likes of Cate Blanchett, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Joel Jackson and Sarah Snook, among many others. Other success stories include the likes of design graduate Deborah Riley, who is the current production designer of international cult sensation, Game Of Thrones. 2015 technical design and stage management graduate Sally Withnell not only had the opportunity to complete a secondment in New York earlier this year, she is now the production manager at Sydney’s iconic Belvoir St Theatre, and directing graduate Kip Williams is currently the co-resident director at Sydney Theatre Company as well as continuing his association with NIDA through teaching directing subjects.

What else you need to know:

Applications for the 2017 intake open Wednesday July 1 and close Friday September 30 for NIDA’s vocational diploma, bachelor and masters courses, with all eligible applicants offered an interview/audition. NIDA short courses, including audition preparation classes, are offered through NIDA Open year-round and accommodate all ages and skill-levels.

Open Day:

Potential applicants can watch the 2016 NIDA Open Day stream online at apply.nida.edu.au.

Address: 215 Anzac Pde, Kensington

Phone: (02) 9697 7600

Email: [email protected]

Website: nida.edu.au

[AUDIO]

SAE Institute

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Courses on offer:

SAE offers a two-year bachelor of audio degree along with diploma courses in studio production, electronic music production and live sound at six campuses across Australia. Our diplomas and part-time Certificate III of Music (Electronic Music) provide pathways into the degree program. SAE students gain practical skills within their first few weeks on campus, have the opportunity to work closely with peers in other creative disciplines throughout their studies, enjoy small class sizes and get access to professional-standard technology from day one.

SAE degree students graduate with a professional online presence and an extensive portfolio that can be shared with prospective employers. They are equipped with the technical and soft skills needed to succeed in diverse audio careers – from studio, post production, live sound or mastering engineer to music producer, radio broadcast producer or sound location recorder. Our courses are responsive to the dynamic needs of employers, and our programs are developed in collaboration with industry to ensure the best student experience and graduate outcomes.

What makes us different:

At SAE, our accredited fast-tracked degrees mean you can be ready to embark on your audio career in just two years. Each degree program is broken into three stages and delivered over three trimesters per year. Typically, a full-time degree or diploma student can expect to engage in their course for a minimum of 36 hours per week. Classes consist of formal lectures, guided tutorials, lab sessions and practical studio workshops.

Our audio degree kicks off with foundational skills development, followed by interdisciplinary projects, media and cultural studies, and culminates in a major portfolio project. Our degree programs also incorporate an 80-hour compulsory internship component, where students get the opportunity to put their audio skills to the test in real-world environments under the supervision of highly experienced industry professionals and qualified staff.

Full-contact classes are supplemented with plenty of individual studio time throughout the course. We also supplement our classroom teaching with a comprehensive program of guest lectures and masterclasses that connect students with industry leaders and provide valuable insights into launching and sustaining an audio career.

At SAE, we’re all about giving students extensive access to professional-standard facilities and equipment to support their studies and major projects, including Neve, SSL and Audient desks as well as Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Ableton Live and other audio software tools.

Take the next step:

SAE has developed a global alumni network that strives to connect graduates with industry, and to engage successful alumni in mentoring future students. In Perth, for example, our audio graduate Matt Gio is now hosting SAE students at his recording studio, RADA Studios, for internships and masterclasses. We host regular SAE alumni events around the country, and this year, in an effort to leverage our global industry connections, SAE Australia is running a competition that will see one of our graduates attending the annual global alumni convention in Germany.

Enrolment dates:

SAE has three intakes per year: February, June and September. Short courses and certificates courses may have different intake timings – contact us for further information.

Open Day:

SAE is throwing open the doors to the Byron Bay, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth campuses on Saturday August 6 from 11am till 3pm.

Address: Level 1, 11-17 York St, Sydney

Phone: (02) 8241 5200

Email: [email protected]

Website: sae.edu.au

[Main image provided by SAE]

For moreinstitutions and courses, check out Part 1 ofThe BRAG’s Mid-year Education Special here.

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